About to leave negative feedback - is it deserved.

[ekrabappel]

I recently purchased a used book as an accepted offer (From $28 to $17.50). The book I received was softcover in Ok condition yet the listing was for hard cover.  I contacted the seller and offered to keep the book if she would offer a $7.50 discount as I did not consider the book worth the price I paid since it was soft cover (This was a used first edition and I can purchase a new 2012 second edition from the UK for $25 including postage).  I recieved no response so I filed a paypal claim stating I was after a $7.50 refund. She sent a curt (no thank you, please etc) message escalating the dipute to a claim but I had to return the book. She originally sent the book in an unpadded recycled envelope (with labels over the previous names and addresses) with $1.20 postage.  So I  sent it back the same way (except I used a new envelope).  After dispatching it at the PO I went to fill in the Paypal response only to discover they need a tracking number. As I did not have one and Paypal wouldn't let me proceed without one I entered a random number.  Since then I recieved a message from paypal saying case closed as no item delivered and refund refused.  I have recieved no response from seller either who I am sure has received the item.  I am fuming. I have sent a message asking the seller if she has received the item and am waiting for a reply.  Having had a closer look at the feedback the lady has a record of not accurately describing goods and I'm sure she knows that people will be reluctant to spend $4-5 dollars to return a $17 item because of a mistake that she made. Negative feedback on the cooker and almost ready to serve. Is my willingness to neg deserved and have other readers had this problem with Paypal wanting tracking on cheap item returns?  Thanx

[iscrap76]

They did contact the seller, and I can't see that they have left the neg yet.

[foxette-in-sox]

Have you thought about pulling their contact details & ringing them?

Threatening them with police is a little OTT.

[chezzy]

So nice to read the forums on a Monday morning and seeing forumers being 'condescending' towards the OP.

If I posted an item to an addressee, any addressee, via Australia Post and the item was lost/not received I would have no hesitation filling in a PM-26 or whatever they call them these days. Sure, Australia Post may decide they are unable to help or offer compensation but on the other hand they may. You don't know until you try. Especially if you have proof of postage and it sounds to me like the item was lodged at a Post Office and not just a street box.

[ekrabappel]

Patchoo78 - I am sure I have been on this earth and e-bay longer than you have so I don't need to be advised of the harsh realities of trading on ebay. 

As someone with more years and experience on the clock I can also give you some advice. Read the facts before commenting. I stated I was considering leaving neg feedback and at this point have not left any feedback.  I am trying to get some feel on whether to do so or not.

As the owner of a supply business for many years I can also say that the customer is right most of the time. When I the supplier have a customer with an issue (even if not my fault)

I am always inclined to rectify it if I can. I certainly would not say the customer was wrong to suggest a compromise for a mistake I made and yet this is exactly the vibe I get from quite a few responses.

I have often read that the retail sector in Oz is in decline partially because of poor customer service yet it seems many respondants expect poor customer service and will in fact admonish customers who question poor service. 

Perhaps I am getting on and we are now in a seller oriented world where the seller and not the customer is always right. 

[motherbear2003]

I rarely leave anything other than positives for sellers because I know how feedback and DSR's can affect ratings, although imo it's more the number of sales than anything else that determines BM ranking.

Having said that, for this seller, despite the fact the buyer didn't follow PayPal's rules, for this seller I definitely would.  Not only does he have the money, he now most likely has the book in his possession and will no doubt relist it.  If I was treated like that, it would be a red dot and 1's right across the board - don't forget to put him on your blocked list just in case he retaliates:|

[***super_nova***]

I rarely leave anything other than positives for sellers.......

Having said that, for this seller, despite the fact the buyer didn't follow PayPal's rules, for this seller I definitely would. 

Absolutely, regardless what the OP did or did not do, the seller is dishonest.  They wrongly described the book and now have it back,as well as the money.  If you people think that this seller does not deserve a NEG, who on the earth does?

[thevintageread]

I think it's kind of you to not rush to give a neg. 🙂

It's so unfortunate you didn't know about the tracking as that has made things more difficult for you.

If you are unsure maybe a neutral?

I think that serves a warning to other buyers to proceed with caution...you can only base it on your experience not what you think the seller may or may not be doing to others.

You sound very understanding and it's obvious you did try to resolve it.

Better luck with your next purchase!

[*crikey*mate*]

Yep, the seller has handled this in a very unprofessional manner from the start.

They may have intentionally listed the book incorrectly, it may have been a mistake, or they might have swapped the book hoping the customer wouldn't return as it was cost inefficient. Who knows? We don't and we never will.

However, they did not force the return of the book (and when I have to return something, my PayPal emails make it pretty clear that I have to provide tracking)

Regardless of intent, it is fraud to submit the wrong details.

Still racking my brain though as to how the seller could now be accused of theft, at last in a criminal sense, perhaps a colloquial one, but criminal? To involve the police?

How is relisting the book going to prove that it is the same book that was sent back? Shaky ground there, eh? Need to be pretty sure of the FACTS and have a small thing called proof, because if anyone wants to toss around words like fraud or theft or criminal intent, it doesn't matter what they know, it doesn't matter what they believe - it only matters what you can PROVE. And unless it is the only book of it's kind ever printed, and short of the police seizing a $20 book for inspection to look for some identifying feature, well - I'd say there is Buckleys.

The seller was unprofessional in all aspects of this transaction, based on what is written in this thread. So rate your transaction accordingly.

However, it is the buyer who has the proof against them of fraud, not only with PayPal, but they have now admitted it on this thread, so they can't even claim a typo....

I'd be treading very carefully - it's a $20 book

You get 80 characters in which to leave your feedback, and even if it is a red dot, all the seller has to do is add the comment, PayPal decided in my favour after buyer's fraudulent actions.

So if you leave feedback, make extra sure that it is factual and doesn't leave you open to a worse response, or provide grounds for its removal based on the evidence submitted to PayPal and your actions.

[belindabargainhunter]

I think your best option is to contact the seller say you have posted it can they please let you know when they receive it. Then wait if in a week they contact you and refund give them a positive saying thankyou for the refund. (we all make mistakes and sending a soft cover can happen.)

If u get no response and no refund then you should give a negative.

[extra-keen]

I am going with motherbear on this one. No matter what you did, at the end of the day, the seller has the book and the money. They should have refunded when the book was returned.

I'd make one more effort to contact the seller, just a simple. "Have you received the book I returned?" Leave it a couple of days. If they do the right thing and refund, all is good. If not a red dot is deserved.

The seems that the seller has been dishonest in my view, and there are no excuses for that.